Dust-receiving receptacle for mops



March 8, 1955 J. o. BARKL 2,703,425

DUST RECEIVING RECEPTACLE FOR MOPS Filed June 4, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JOHN 0 BARKL.

ATTORNEY J. o. BARKL 2,703,426

March 8, 1955 DUST RECEIVING RECEPTACLE FOR MOPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4, 1954 INVENTOR JOHN O. BARKL ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,703,426 DUST-RECEIVING RECEPTACLE FOR MOPS John 0. Bark], Washington, 1). 0.

Application June 4, 1954, Serial No. 434,516

8 Claims. (Cl. -257) The present invention relates to dust-receiving receptacles for handled mops and the like and comprises an improvement of the receiver which forms the subject of 11119); 7U. S. Patent No. 2,431,452, issued November 25,

The receptacle provided by the present invention constitutes a bag which can be collapsed for storage in a space of small compass when not in use and which can be readily expanded to provide a capacious closed chamber into which the head of a mop or the like may be inserted and shaken to dislodge adhering dust therefrom for collection in the chamber.

Housewives and others who use dust mops and the like to clean the floors of rooms experience considerable difficulty and annoyance in connection with the cleaning of the mops during use. Efiicient cleaning of most rooms requires that the cleaning operation be interrupted one or more times, even when the room being cleaned is relatively small, to free the mop head of accumulated dust. It is frequently not convenient to carry the mop to a more or less distant dust receiver, and there are obvious objections to shaking the mop out of an open window.

My prior patent discloses a dust receiver which is substantially closed when disposed in position for use but which is provided with a narrow lengthwise slit in an upright side wall which may be opened for insertion of the mop head, with the mop handle projecting through the slit and relatively snugly engaged by flexible material defining the slit, so that the handle may be shaken manually, thereby dislodging the dust from the mop head, for settling and collection in the bottom of the receptacle.

The present receptacle similarly provides a substantially closed chamber having a slitted lengthwise opening in a vertical side wall, and cooperates in generally the same manner with the head and handle of the mop.

Important distinctions between the present improvement and the previous device reside in the structure of the receptacle and in the means for suspending it in use.

Broadly speaking, the improvement consists in eliminating the rigid framework that characterized the bag forming the previous receptacle and in providing the new entirely limp and flexible bag with means for suspending it from the back of a chair instead of from the knobs of a door as in the case of the previous bag.

General objects of the present invention are to improve the hanging or suspending arrangement of the bag, to simplify its construction and materially reduce its cost of manufacture, and to decrease the space occupied by the bag when collapsed for storage, all without in any way reducing the efficiency of the bag in the performance of its intended functions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will be evident from the following description, a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is disclosed by the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention disposed in operative position on the back of a chair, with a mop head inserted in position to be shaken free of its accumulated dust;

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view taken from a different angle;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially centrally through the bag and the supporting chair; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken through the bag on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring to these drawings, the invention comprises essentially a large bag 1 which may be made of heavy kraft paper or the like, and may be constructed in the manner of the large bags used in stores for the packaging of miscellaneous collections of groceries and the like sold to retail purchasers. Such a bag is best made of a single sheet of heavy paper or the like cut to an appropriately shaped blank and then folded and secured at certain overlapping margins to provide a generally rectangular front wall 2, a similar back wall 3, a pair of side walls 4, 4 and a bottom wall 5. All the walls are of rectangular shape; the front and back walls are of equal shape and size and are parallel to each other when the bag is opened; and the two side walls are of equal size and shape and are parallel to each other when the bag is opened. The back wall 3 may include overlapped margins 6 adhesively secured together, and other margins may be overlapped and adhesively secured together in the bottom Wall 5. The side walls 4, 4 are centrally vertically creased, as shown at '7, 7, so that the bag can be collapsed by folding the side walls inwardly along the crease lines, while at the same time folding the bottom wall 5 upwardly through the medium of downwardly diverging side wall crease lines 3, 8 and a back wall transverse crease line 9, thus bringing the front and back walls into flat engagement with each other and turning the bottom wall up into engagement with the back wall. All the foregoing is in accordance with standard paper bag making practice and is believed to require no further explanatron.

In this connection it may be noted that the bag as thus far described may be otherwise made and be of specifically difi'erent construction from the above suggested pre ferred construction, as long as it is devoid of supporting framework and has no rigid parts or elements that would prevent collapse and/ or folding into a minimum volume.

As has been stated, the bag walls, both front and back, as well as the two side walls, extend upwardly to a normally open top opening. In use this top opening is closed. In a bag construction of the preferred type, closing can be readily effected by bringing the front and back walls together into contact with each other, with the upper portions of the two side walls tucked inwardly by folding along the longitudinal creases 7, and then turning the engaged margins of the front and back Walls over on each other, preferably through two or more turns, into the relationship shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This closed relationship may be maintained by operation of any suitable catch or fastener, such as the conventional paper clips shown at 22.

A short tape 10 may be securely fastened at one end to one of the bag walls (or to the pocket-forming sheet attached thereto and presently to be described), with an eyelet in its other end for hanging the bag when not in use. Of course any other appropriate types of fastener and hanging means may be employed.

The front wall 2 of the bag is provided with a slitted opening 12 through which the head 13 of a mop may be inserted, with the handle 14 protruding, and with the margins of the slitted opening tending to hug the handle, so that the handle may be manually shaken in a vertical plane without involving any very material opening of the slitc,1 as will be understood from the showings in Figs. 1 an 3.

The slit is best formed in the following manner:

The paper or equivalent material of the bag wall 2 is cut out to provide a relatively large oblong opening extending lengthwise through the major portion of the wall. Two strips of flexible sheet material, preferably a strong sheet plastic like vinyl or polyethylene film, are folded lengthwise on themselves to provide a pair of double ply closure members 15, each somewhat wider and longer than the oblong opening. in the alternative, flattened tubing of similar material may be substituted for folded-over flat sheets to'form the members 15. These closure members are then secured to the sides, bottoms and tops of the margins of the opening, as shown at 16 in Fig. 1, preferably by reinforcing binding strips of paper or the like 17, stitched around the margins of the members so as to form a rectangular frame which covers the top, bottom and outer side of each of the strips 15. This frame is. secured. to. the. bag .wallmateriallsurround t a.

the oblong opening by adhesive. The bindings, it will be noted, cover and concealc-all raw free edges of the strips.15. (said rawfreeedgesbeingat the.itop,.bottom. v aridLouter sidelin the case. of .folded-oYer..lsheetS,L and? being. confined to the topatidfhottom iftubing-be used); The arrangement .is such that each of .the foIded. strips Y (or flattened tubes) 15.very completely overlaps the other,

with afolded edge exposed, so. that .tlie..mop.liead may... be inserted"behind the outermost. strip; betweenit and.

the. inner strip, and .be thus introduced into Ithebag- Ashas been explained, theharidle .14"pro.tru'des through. the slitted opening, so that;it can-be shaken .up...and.-.down

witha minimum .of .displacementof 'the. strips. 15, to.v dislo'dgefthe dustfrom the mop hea'd.13. and cause itptov descerid and be collectedin theibottom ofi thebag,

In order to hang the. bag inoperative positionifor. the. foregoing use, the back wall13fof the baglhas. securedtto its'.upper portionfthree offthefour. marginal edges. .of a

generally rectangular sheet of paper or the like. 18.. .The bottom edge of the sheet except at its extreme lateral edges, .so that .the..-sheet.forrns with the back wall a downwardly opening pocket '19 which maybe slipped over the back20 lot a chairl21,.as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. Thepocket 19is proportioned properly tofit the back of any usual. type .ofikitchen ondining room chair or other chair of generallyjsimilar.style,.and-

the bag is made of proper length tohaveitsbottomwall spaced somewhat above the fioorwhen. the pocket is fitted down. completely on thechair back,..all as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

It is"a simple matter to hang the closed bag in the manner above described and to spread its. backand. front walls apart so as to exand'the walls to. provide .a capacious chamber within the bag. Indeed, it is. only necessary that the bag. be hung in.position as. explained,.without performing any special wall-expanding operatibmbecause insertion of the mop head through the sli'tted opening 12 will start expandingthe walls, and verticalsh'aking. of themop will complete the expansion.

It will be understood'that the bag is carriedfromroom to room as the cleaning operation proceeds and is hung on chairs in the several rooms. The mopiheadis. inserted and shaken as often as required. On completion of the cleaningoperation, or after thecompletion of sevis emptied by opening its top and dumping thedusttherefrom into any suitable waste receptacle.

Theinvention hasbeendescribedin terms of ;the zforegoing preferred form of embodiment, but itiiszbelieved.

to be evident that various changes may be madein-the details of the disclosed. constructionwithout departing from the .spirit of theinvention as definedbyithebroader of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A dust-receiving receptacle for handledrnopscomprising a sheet of fiexiblematerial folded on.itselfwith mally closed lengthwise slitted opening. andheing. sep

arable by a mop head inserted throughthe openingwith the mop handle projecting to the outside for manual shaking movement with the plies tending to keep the opening closed about the handle, the upper portibnbflthe '18 isxunattached to the.wall ..3

eral. such operations, whenever the accumulation, of dust in the bottom ofthe bag appears to. requireit, the .bag i back vwall ,to provide, afdownwardly back wallbeingprovided with a downwardly open pocket adapted to be fitted over the back of a chair to hang the bag, and means for holding-: the front and back walls together at their top edges to keep the bag closed.

2. A dust-receiving receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the overlapping plies defining the slitted opening are separate from the named. sheet of flexible material and are secured thereto at their margins.

3. dust-receiving:receptacleas claimed in cl Lk which the front wall is provided with an oblong cut-out and the overlappingtpliesaofdlexibleimaterial. are secured to said wall at themargins, of said cut-out.

4. Adust-receivingreceptacle'as--claimed in claim 1, in which the bag,is;.f ormed of a sheet of, paper and the overlapping plies defining the slitted opening are formed of sheet plastic material of greater strength than said paper.

5. A dust-receiving receptacle as-claimed .in. claim 1, in .whichsaidlpocket .comPrisesa sheet .of flexible material having its, 1top ,and side margins. secured .to: the .back .wall of-..'the..bag..

6.' Adust-receiving receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the. front Wallis providedwvithan oblongcut-out and Itheoverlapping plies .of flexiblematerial defining the slitted, opening, comprise arpairof strips eachr'fo'lded on itself; to. .provide. a .double thickness. with. the free edges securedjto the front ,walll'material .at the. longitudinal margins of the cuteout.and.with .theifolded. edge extending laterally beyond "the folded edge of the otherstrip.

7. A..dust-receiving receptacle as, claimed. in claim. 1, in .whi'ehthe.front-wall;is,.providedlwith an oblong, cutout and ttheoverlapping .pliles offiexiblematerial defining the slitted opening comprisea pair ofstrips each foldedon itself to provide. a double; thickness .with.the free. side edges secured'to. the frontwalli material at the longitudinal marginsofthe cut-out and with (theend edges secured to .the front wallimaterial at the top, and bottom margins of.tlie.cut -ont, and,with the'folded side. edge extending laterally beyond ithe'folded edge of the .other strip.

,8. AEduStPIeceiving receptacle .for handled mops comprisinga collapsible, paper baghay'ing abottom wall and front,.back and side .walls. extendingppwardly therefrom and terminatingjnanormallyopentop opening, means forholdingjhe front and back wallslfolded over on each other'withitheupper portions of the side, walls tucked inwar'dly. to. close the top opening; :1 .ply of sheet ,material secured,at'its topandjsides tojthe ppper portion of the open pocket adapted tohe fittedover',thebacklofafchair to hang the bag, and

the,front jwall being.proyide'dxwith overlapping plies of flexible jsheet'material definipga longitudinal slitthrough which ahandledmophead'may be inserted into the bag -with the handle projecting tojthe outside for manualshaking movement with theplies tending to keep the slitclosed aboutithe handle.

References Cited inzthe' file of-this patent UNITED ZSTATES PATENTS 

